Iraq to fuel renewable energies

Iraq plans to spend up to $1.6 billion on solar and wind power stations over the next three years to add 400 megawatts (MW) to the national grid to help curb daily blackouts, an official from the ministry of electricity said.

Iraq plans to spend up to $1.6 billion on solar and wind power stations over the next three years to add 400 megawatts (MW) to the national grid to help curb daily blackouts[2], an official from the ministry of electricity said.

Invitations have been sent to about 25 leading companies to manufacture and install solar and wind power plants, said Laith Al Mamury, the head of the planning and studies department at the ministry of electricity. The companies include Japan’s Toyota Tsusho Corp, Swiss engineering group ABB and Egypt’s Orascom Construction. The ministry has allocated an initial $200 million from the 2013 budget to add 50 MW to the grid next year, focusing on deserted and border areas, Mamury said.

Solar energy is rare in Iraq, expect for lighting on some of its main streets. The ministry has plans to reach 22 gigawatts of power generation capacity to meet demand in 2016 by upgrading and building new power projects to solve the chronic shortages. Mamury said each MW of solar or wind energy cost around $3.5-$4 million, but the initial outlay would be offset by lower running costs because the stations do not need fuel to operate.